The annual League of Young Voters ReEmergence event will, organizers hope, be revitalized in 2010 by a relevant, popular focus — Southern Maine’s creative economy — and a wide spread of involved parties who range from visual artists to local arts associations to fashion designers. The celebration (in its fifth year) is the League’s opportunity to reach out to Greater Portlanders, even those who may not be politically minded. This year’s event is dubbed “Kaleidoscopic Community” and will have two distinct phases, both highlighting the connections between civic involvement and community building.

From 7 to 9 pm, SPACE Gallery will host something of a massive group show and networking session among artists and organizations such as Port City Architecture, the Portland Music Foundation, Acadia Sessions, and many more. Everyone has been encouraged to bring work or information that’s representative of their skills and interests. Madgirl — fashion designer Meredith Alex — will display one-of-a-kind clothing made of old voter guides, campaign literature, and bumper stickers. And Louisa Donelson, the educator at the Children’s Museum and Theatre, MENSK board member, and League volunteer who curated the event, has created a slideshow of images and stills from scores of other artists and performers who could not attend the event. The “mobile gallery” will be projected onto the wall through the evening. Just as a kaleidoscope mesmerizes by morphing one image into another, Donelson is interested in “bringing one person to the next person and bringing those skill sets together.”

At 9, the tables and walls will be whisked away to make room for more active mingling (of the foot-moving sort), with performances by Dreamosaic, Theodore Treehouse, Scottie Whitehouse, Ayperi, Port Veritas, DJ Silverchild, Noshun & iSlouch, and Lex Lucid. Local legislative candidate Jill Barkley will MC the affair.

“With entertainment licenses being questioned in our downtown business district, and the opportunity to pass a Portland Charter that includes an elected mayor, we have the opportunity to make that connection for people,” the League said in a press release explaining why the organization chose to focus this year’s event on creativity. “Being able to elect a mayor who cares about our local creative economy will help that economy flourish.”

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